Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said Tuesday that his office has started an investigation into the City of Columbia’s practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The investigation will focus on “decision-making in city programs, hiring and funding,” according to a news release from Bailey’s office.
“We will not allow government at any level to implement systemically racist policies under the false banner of ‘equity,’ a term which city officials have been hesitant to agree upon,” Bailey says in the news release. “Our laws are clear: race-based quotas in public policy are illegal and unconstitutional.”
Bailey added in an interview that DEI practices outside of numbers are also on the table.
“It’s not just quotas that violate the law, it’s any discriminatory practice in the context of funding, programming, financing and employment law decisions as well,” Bailey said. “If anyone is making employment decisions based on the color of a person’s skin, that is discriminatory and violates not only the Missouri Human Rights Act, but the federal Civil Rights Act as well.”
If found in violation DEI compliance, Bailey plans to sue the city and get in contact with the White House, which may jeopardize millions in federal funding for Columbia.
The release says Bailey’s office has received “multiple” reports from Columbia residents alleging discrimination in city programs.
The Columbia City Council voted last month against striking DEI-related language from the city’s mission and vision statements. The council decided to keep its vision statement to read, “Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play,” and its mission statement to say, “To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.”
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Columbia City Manager De’Carlon Seewood said in a statement that the city does not implement “quotas, benchmarks or metrics based on race, nor does it discriminate against any groups based on race or other identities.”
“Our goal is, and always has been, to remove barriers, ensuring that all residents have access to City services, opportunities and support,” Seewood wrote.
Local non-profit Race Matters, Folks called the investigation “hilarious,” and argued that the city would avoid violations due to a lack of DEI practices. Vice President of Race Matters, Friends Traci Wilson-Kleekamp claimed that most of the city’s DEI practices were symbolic.
“Institutionally and systemically they don’t practice, that,” Kleekamp said. “this is an opportunity for them to really step up and say, ‘we need to stop with the lip service and get down to business,’ and get down to brass tacks and hold the administration accountable and responsible for actually getting equity done.”
Bailey said the city laid down its commitment to DEI in its 2021 strategic plan.
“The City of Columbia made it clear in their 2021 Strategic Plan that they intended to adopt a ‘racial equity toolkit’ and a ‘racial equity lens.’ The people of Columbia voted for transparency, but have received ambiguous, potentially racist policies that threaten punishment for city employees who challenge the DEI narrative,” Bailey says in the release.
The release says Bailey has submitted a request for public records and electronic communication for terms related to DEI. The request covers March 1 to today. The City has three business days to submit the records or report a delay.
“We’re going to hold their feet to the fire and ensure that the people understand how their tax dollars are being used and whether or not they’re being used in a discriminatory fashion under the city’s programs,” Bailey said.
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